Episodic facial palsy due to epithelial cyst of the cerebellopontine angle: case report and review of the literature

A case of cerebellopontine angle epithelial cyst is described. Lesions in this region usually present with hearing loss, tinnitus, dysequilibrium, headaches, facial numbness and occasionally trigeminal neuralgia. Our patient presented with the unusual phenomenon of episodic facial palsy. The literature reporting this lesion as well as this mode of presentation has been reviewed.     

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins in mice

Background  

Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition, antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the present study was undertaken.     

Mechanism of altered B-cell response induced by changes in dietary protein type in mice

The effect of 20 g/100 g dietary lactalbumin (L) or casein (C) diets or a nonpurified (NP) diet on the immune responsiveness of C57Bl/6J, C3H/HeJ and BALB/cJ mice has been investigated by measuring the response to the T cell-independent antigen, TNP-Ficoll. To investigate the possible influence of dietary protein type on the supply of B lymphocytes, bone marrow lymphocyte production has been examined by a radioautographic assay of small lymphocyte renewal and an immunofluorescent stathmokinetic assay of pre-B cells and their proliferation. The humoral response of all mice fed the L diet was found to be higher than that of mice fed the C diet or nonpurified diet. A similar pattern of dietary protein effect in (CBA/N X DBA/2J) F1 mice carrying the xid defect was observed following challenge with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). An even greater enhancing effect of dietary L was noted in normal (DBA/2J X CBA/N) F1 mice after immunization with SRBC, but in contrast, the normal large-scale production of B lymphocytes in mouse bone marrow was independent of the type of dietary protein. Dietary protein type did not affect blood level of minerals and trace metals. The free plasma amino acid profile essentially conformed to the amino acid composition of the ingested protein, suggesting that the changes in plasma amino acid profile might be a crucial factor in diet-dependent enhancement or depression of the B-cell response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the infratemporalis fossa: a case report

Extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the head and neck is usually seen in the Waldeyer's ring. Localizations in the infratemporalis fossa are rare and to date, only seven cases have been reported. The clinical and radiographic features of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is non-specific. Positive diagnosis requires a pathologic examination, generally guided by immunohistochemistry results. We report a case and discuss the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic features of these tumors.     

Cisatracurium or rocuronium versus rocuronium-cisatracurium combination

The present report evaluates the incidence of pain on intravenous injection and the condition of tracheal intubation at one minute following the administration of cisatracurium or rocuronium versus rocuronium-cisatracurium combination. We studied 60 patients, ASA 1, aged 18-60 years, undergoing elective surgical procedures. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups who received intravenously either 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium [2ED95], 0,6 mg rocuronium [2ED95] or a combination of 0.075 mg/kg cisatracurium [1ED95], plus 0.3 mg rocuronium [1ED95]. In the awake patients, the pain on injection of muscle relaxant was assessed on a four point scale (none, mild, moderate, severe). Administration of the relaxant was followed by 1-2 mg/kg of lidocaine and 2 mg/kg propofol. Orotracheal intubation was performed 60 seconds following the administration of the relaxant. The intubating conditions were assessed and rated as excellent, good, fair or poor. The administration of 2ED95 cisatracurium resulted in poor intubating conditions at 60s, without pain on injection. In contrast, the administration of 2ED95 rocuronium resulted in excellent or good intubating conditions at 60s associated with high incidence of pain on injection in most of the patients. However, the combination of 1ED95 cisatracurium with 1ED95 rocuronium provided similar intubating conditions to the 2ED95 rocuronium alone, associated with a significantly less pain on injection.     

Visual outcomes for optic nerve sheath fenestration in pseudotumour cerebri and related conditions

BACKGROUND: To determine the efficacy and safety of optic nerve sheath fenestration, and to identify factors predicting visual field (VF) and visual acuity (VA) in patients with progressive pseudotumour cerebri syndrome. METHODS: This retrospective observational case series studied 51 eyes of 32 patients with pseudotumour cerebri syndrome, by chart review and comparison of preoperative and postoperative examinations. Main outcome measures included VF, VA and complications. RESULTS: Postoperative VF mean deviation scores improved (P = 0.03) within 6 months when compared with preoperative VF. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that eyes with mean deviation > or = -20 dB were associated with improved or stabilized VA at 6 months, odds ratio 7.5 and confidence interval (1.2, 46.1), P = 0.03. Eyes with VF defects outside 10 degrees of fixation were associated with improved or stabilized VF at 6 months odds ratio 9.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1, 85.9, P = 0.04. Five patients developed self-limiting complications from surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve sheath fenestration is safe and effective in stabilizing or improving VF and VA in the short to medium term. Patients with mild VF loss improved following surgery, and patients with severe VF loss stabilized following surgery.